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Polycarbonate

Polycarbonate Prices, markets & analysis

If you buy or sell Polycarbonate or related products, you need up-to-date global pricing data and the background information to help you understand it.

Our network of price reporters across Asia, Europe and the US enables us to deliver this. We publish their insights in our comprehensive daily and weekly price reports, plus we offer the news and analysis you need to put pricing information into context.

Polycarbonate Overview transcript

Polycarbonate is a type of high-specification engineering plastic. Its major markets are in the electronic sectors such as: computers and business equipment, optical media, glazing sheet products and in the automotive industry.

Polycarbonate is naturally transparent, has high strength, toughness, heat resistance and excellent dimensional and colour stability.

The raw material for polycarbonate is bisphenol-A or BPA.

China is the largest importer and user of th resin in Asia given its huge manufacturing base. The market is fast-moving and is over supplied.

The spot market is active and liquid with major sellers from Korea, Taiwan, Japan southeast Asia, the US and Europe.

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Market overview

News & analysis

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Methodology

About

How we can help

Polycarbonate news and market information products from ICIS

We offer the following regional Polycarbonate analysis and news coverage
to keep you informed of factors and developments affecting prices
in the Polycarbonate marketplace.

Price reporting

Price Reporting – More information about the price reports we publish on Polycarbonate

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Market overview

Polycarbonate: Market overview

Updated to Q1 2015

The European polycarbonate (PC) market remains long, mainly due to supply rather than deficient demand, which looks set to be quite healthy in 2015. The big question is whether the large reductions in feedstock costs encountered since the last few weeks of 2014 will be passed on to PC customers, and to what extent. Producers continue to experience unsustainable margins and appear more resolved to repair them by resisting substantial price cuts.

US PC market participants are not expecting any significant changes in supply and demand fundamentals in the first quarter. Some believe the global market remains oversupplied, despite Dow Chemical's shutdown of its Freeport plant in Texas and the upcoming shutdown of Teijin's plant in Singapore at the end of 2015. US PC producers have been able to keep their overall prices steady.

In Asia, most market participants expect the market to carry over the price downtrend, largely because of the sharp fall of feedstock bisphenol A (BPA) prices and a bearish sentiment about the market. Buying appetite in the first quarter, meanwhile, is likely to be moderately tapered amid the dampened mood, industry participants say.

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Produced by the ICIS Consulting team, these reports give a robust rolling 12-month price forecast, trade balances and in-depth analysis into where markets are heading – providing a valuable tool to support your short- to medium-term plans.

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Regional coverage

Methodology

ICIS price assessments are based on information gathered from a wide cross-section of the market, comprising consumers, producers, traders and distributors from more than 250 reporters world-wide. Confirmed deals, verified by both buyer and seller, provide the foundation of our price assessments.

Our in-depth market knowledge drives our specialist focus, as we recognise the importance of individual market dynamics and not a one-size-fits-all approach.

Over 25 years of reporting on key chemicals markets, including Polycarbonate, has brought global recognition of our methodology as being unbiased, authoritative and rigorous in preserving our editorial integrity. Our global network of reporters in Houston, London, Singapore, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Mumbai, Perth and Moscow ensures unrivalled coverage of established and emerging markets.

Polycarbonate Methodology

Polycarbonate (PC) is a type of high specification engineering plastic, suitable for moulding and with a high impact resistance.

About

About Polycarbonate

Polycarbonate resins are tough thermoplastics with major markets in the electrical/electronic sectors such as computer and business equipment, optical discs, glazing and sheet products and in the automotive construction industries.

Polycarbonates are long-chain linear polyesters of carbonic acid and dihydric phenols, such as bisphenol-A (BPA). It is hydroscopic, has only fair chemical resistance and is attacked by many organic solvents.

Polycarbonate is naturally transparent, with the ability to transmit light nearly that of glass. It has high strength, heat resistance, and excellent dimensional and colour stability.

Different grades of the polymer are available and the grades vary by strength, clarity, moulding temperatures, service temperatures and other parameters.

Polycarbonate is also used in compounds or blended with other resins such as acrylonitrile-butadiene styrene (ABS) or polybutylene terephthalate (PBT).

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Market outlook: Benzene rise threatens European phenol market

Low cost imports and difficult trading conditions are cited by INEOS as the reason for closure of their 300,000 tonne/year vinyl acetate momomer (VAM) plant in Hull, UK. Celanese may also be closing their Spanish plant. This represents a combined loss of 50% capacity in Europe.

Market insight: Chemical industry focused on green targets

The chemical industry has been dealing with EU legislation in recent years aimed at making the world a safer and healthier place to live and work in. More than 130 separate environmental targets and objectives have to be met in Europe between 2010 and 2050 in a drive to cut energy use, pollution, and waste generation.

Chemical profile: US Linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE)

Demand for linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) exports waned during 2013 as US prices were undercut by other regions. An uptake in construction and landscaping is expected to boost domestic demand. Operating rates should remain above 90% for the next few years.